Keto Diet and Improved Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis

By Jessica Swartz June 25, 2023 37 mins read 110 Views

A keto diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. It mimics a nutritional fasting state and has been shown to improve seizure controlopens in new window in epilepsy patients and reduce inflammation.

Researchers at OMRF have found that people with relapsing-remitting MS who follow a keto diet experience improvements in their fatigue and quality of life. It may also help reduce disease progression, according to a study that was presented at an upcoming medical conference.

Improved cognitive function

The keto diet, popular in weight loss and the fitness community, has shown promising results in people with multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. In a small study, participants with relapsing-remitting MS who followed a high-fat, low-carbohydrate keto diet experienced improvement in their disease symptoms and quality of life.

The scientists behind the study believe that the diet enhances cognitive function in these patients because it increases ketone consumption by bypassing dysfunctional steps of mitochondrial bioenergetic processing, and reduces levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. They also report that the keto diet satisfies hunger and decreases feelings of fatigue in these participants.

Although the keto diet appears to have benefits for many people with MS, it's important to talk to your doctor before trying this or any other diet. You should also seek the advice of a registered dietitian if you have any concerns about following a specific diet, especially one that is so restrictive.

Reduced inflammation

Inflammation is another major cause of MS symptoms, and the keto diet may help reduce it. The keto diet restricts carbohydrates, so the body uses fats for energy instead. This process creates molecules called ketones. These molecules help to reduce inflammation and other inflammatory responses.

The keto diet can also improve energy levels and mental health by reducing fatigue. It can also increase the number of healthy bacteria in the gut. These healthy bacteria help to fight the inflammation that causes MS symptoms.

While the keto diet can provide many benefits, it is important to talk with your doctor before trying it. It is also important to find a dietitian that can help you make the right adjustments. MyMSTeam members who follow the keto diet have reported positive experiences, but results can vary. Read more about these experiences on MyMSTeam, a community of more than 195,000 people with MS and their loved ones. MyMSTeam is the place to share knowledge, support, and hope.

Decreased body fat

The keto diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. When the body does not have enough carbohydrates to use for energy, it burns its own fat instead. This process creates molecules called ketones, which help the body get its energy.

A 2022 study found that the keto diet reduced oxidative stress and lowered inflammation in people with MS, especially those who had more fat. This may be due to the fact that a keto diet can reduce levels of leptin, an adipokine that promotes weight gain and increases inflammation.

While the results of this and other studies are encouraging, it is important to remember that everyone’s experience with a diet will be different. Before trying the keto diet or any other diet, talk with your neurologist and a dietitian first. They can offer guidance and advice based on the latest research and your personal needs. They may also be able to connect you with a nutrition specialist or clinical trial that can help you learn more about the benefits and risks of different diets.

Improved mental health

Researchers co-authored a study showing that the high-fat, low-carb keto diet may help improve symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis. The diet, popular for weight loss and bodybuilding, restricts carbohydrates and forces the body to burn fats in a process called ketosis.

After six months on the diet, 65 patients with relapsing-remitting MS reported less fatigue and depression, improved quality of life and better performance on a walking test. They also had lower levels of inflammatory markers in their blood.

The scientists behind the study believe that a ketogenic diet helps improve mitochondria function in the brain. These are the energy producers in cells and can be damaged by inflammation or oxidation in people with MS. The ketones produced when the body is in ketosis provide a different kind of energy that can strengthen neurons and protect them against damage. However, people should only follow a ketogenic diet under the care of a trained dietitian in a clinical trial. Long-term, unmonitored ketogenic diets can cause kidney stones, unhealthy levels of lipids in the blood and nutrient deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during the initial week of keto?

Do your research before you begin a ketogenic lifestyle. It's important to learn about the best foods and how many carbs can you eat daily. Learning which foods help create the right balance of macronutrients is also important.

Once you have the basic information, it is time to start creating meals that suit your new lifestyle. Consuming whole, unprocessed foods will speed up your body's adaptation to this new way of living. The simple addition of more healthy fats and protein to each meal can help you curb your cravings while improving energy levels.

The next step is to master proper portion control and manage meal timings while following the ketogenic diet. This will enable your body into a state called ketosis, where it starts burning fat instead sugar for energy. This can either be accomplished by tracking macros or consulting a nutritionalist who may be able to offer one-on-1 advice.

When transitioning into keto, newcomers must take their time. They need to ensure that their bodies are ready for the change before they can go full throttle. You should get plenty of rest and keep hydrated during this transition. You should give yourself at least three days to decide if this is the right thing for you. Everyone responds differently so take your time and care of your body.

Can I drink alcohol on a keto diet?

It is sensible to ask yourself what you can do and not do when you are following the keto diet. Consuming alcoholic beverages is something that should be considered.

It all depends. Many alcoholic drinks are not suitable for keto, and some may be more keto-friendly than others. Factors like grain content, sugar levels, and even the type of alcohol will affect whether its consumption affects your daily carb intake or not.

Therefore, you need to choose wisely and understand that just because an alcoholic beverage doesn't have visible carbs doesn't mean it is well aligned with the keto lifestyle - as it might still increase your blood sugar levels. Besides, other elements, such as calorie content, should also be considered before making your choice.

Moderation is crucial when you are drinking alcohol on a diet low in carbs to maximize its benefits and avoid any potential drawbacks that could affect your fitness or weight loss goals.

Informed decisions make for better decisions. Before you reach for low-carb beverages, make sure to pay attention to every detail.

What is the best lazy keto diet for beginners to follow?

It can be daunting to begin your keto journey. There are many books, websites and nutrition advice that can overwhelm you. That's where the "lazy keto diet" comes in.

Rather than tracking every detail of your macros, a lazy keto diet focuses on reducing net carbohydrate intake to 25-50 grams daily to enter and stay in a state of ketosis. This approach is more relaxed than traditional keto diets since you don’t need to keep so close tabs on macronutrient ratios and caloric intake.

You can basically eat a lazy ketogenic lifestyle, which means you don't need to track macros. Instead, you choose whole low-carb foods such as meats, eggs dairy products, nuts and seeds. However, starchy carbohydrates and added sugars are not allowed.

This could be the best option for those who want to make low-carb diets easy without giving up on delicious meals and getting important nutrients. Lazy Keto is ideal for people starting to lose weight, who do not have the time or knowledge necessary to follow a keto diet.

Is keto right to you?

It is essential to do your research and ask the hard questions so you can determine what is right for you. This is why the keto diet is so popular and has been for so many years. It is widely believed to provide health benefits beyond just weight loss.

Ask yourself these questions: What are your health goals? Do I want to lose weight, improve mental clarity or balance my gut microbiome? There is no one-size fits all method, but keto can be an excellent place to begin if you do your research.

Keto is a way to limit the amount carbohydrates that you consume. We recommend consuming 20 grams per person each day. This pushes our bodies into a biochemical state known as nutritional ketosis - basically using fat as our energy source instead of sugar or glucose. Although it may seem difficult at first to stick to this carb limit, you will soon learn how to do it.

If you can maintain a high nutritional quality and consume certain healthy fats (such as Omega 3 and other beneficial mono/polyunsaturated fatty acids found in avocados or salmon), you should experience beneficial metabolic effects when you follow a ketogenic lifestyle. This is true regardless of whether you're looking to improve your overall health or body composition.

If you balance your nutrient intake with keto, it can be very sustainable. Make sure to eat real whole foods and eat small portions. Properly done, keto could be very beneficial. It is worth taking the time to read up on it from trusted sources before making major steps forwards (or backwards).

Statistics

Proteins should account for around 10–30% of energy needs, while carbs are usually restricted to 5%. (healthline.com)
But, a 1-ounce slice of cheese delivers about 30% of the Daily Value for saturated fat, so if you're worried about heart disease, consider portion size when eating cheese. (eatingwell.com)
Around 35% of total calorie intake is probably the upper limit. (healthline.com)
Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy, but on a strict ketogenic diet, less than 5% of energy intake is from carbohydrates (learn more in our beginner's guide for the ketogenic diet). (eatingwell.com)
Recommended Keto diet includes: Keto sushi bites, olives, one or two hard-boiled or deviled eggs, keto-friendly snack bars, 90% dark chocolate, full-fat Greek yogurt mixed with nut butter and cocoa powder, bell peppers, and guacamole (healthline.com)

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How To

How to determine if the Ketogenic Diet is right for you

Explore the potential benefits of your diet to understand its power. A healthy diet will help you achieve better mental and physical health.

The ketogenic approach is one solution. However, it may not be able to deliver the results you want. How can you know if it works? As someone considering this eating approach, you need to be able to accurately measure whether or not it's affecting your health and lifestyle.

You can track your responses to this diet plan and see how they impact you. Take a look at how much energy and time you have each day. Does it feel like you are eating more? Has your digestion improved? Is your quality of sleep better? Do some activities cause more discomfort than others?

These are important considerations. Take a look at the issues that need attention and make a list. Then track your progress over time to see if any improvements are made. Monitor any metabolic changes in your body such as cholesterol or blood sugar levels. These can help you determine if the ketogenic diet is helping to achieve your goals.

Check your body composition as well. Have you noticed any significant changes in fat loss or muscle gain? The ketogenic diet can be beneficial if you experience slow but steady progress over time.

Resources:

Keto Diet and Improved Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis